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Wrongful Death Lawyer in Northridge CA

California Personal Injury Attorney
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Northridge Wrongful Death Attorney

Has a Family Member Suffered a Wrongful Death in Northridge?

Some of the injury cases our law firm handles involve a death caused by a negligent party. If a person has died in an accident, the family members of the deceased are likely entitled to compensation for their tragic loss. You will need the assistance of a qualified Northridge wrongful death lawyer. The attorneys at Drake Law Firm defend accident and injury victims and their families regularly. They may be able to help you obtain compensation for your loss.

A wrongful death is where the negligence or recklessness of an individual or company are responsible for a fatality. The law in California understands that when one person's actions cost another his or her life, the responsible person needs to be legally liable to pay damages to the victim's loved ones. This means that when a family member dies in an accident, the surviving family members may be entitled to bring a civil claim against those responsible for the accident.

Common Types of Cases that Result In Wrongful Death

A few of the most common types of cases that result in wrongful death are car accidents, slips and falls, workplace accidents, and medical malpractice.

When a Motor Vehicle Accident Causes Wrongful Death

Losing a family member to an automobile accident is devastating. And it can be emotionally challenging to consider what you need to do next when you are so early in the mourning process. However, some individuals report that filing a claim helped to provide peace of mind since they had one less thing to worry about. A wrongful death claim means that something is being done to get justice for a deceased relative.

A motor vehicle accident that results in a wrongful death can leave a family with major stress and anxiety about repaying medical costs, managing funeral costs, and losing earnings from a primary provider. Drake Law Firm can help to make sure that you get the compensation that you are entitled to for medical costs, lost income, loss of consortium, as well as pain and suffering.

Wrongful death due to an automobile accident can occur at the scene of the accident or later when the victim succumbs to their injuries. Although fatal motor vehicle accidents are oftentimes caused by intoxicated drivers, distracted drivers, and speeding, virtually any kind of automobile accident can lead to a deadly collision. Some of the most common injuries from car accidents that later lead to wrongful death are traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and internal injuries. If your loved one passes away from complications due to their injury, it still falls under the umbrella of wrongful death. Therefore, the at-fault party can still be sued for their negligence.

Wrongful Death Caused By Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are seldom considered a deadly kind of accident. However, this is simply not true. Slips and falls can be fatal, particularly if the head strikes the ground or another hard surface.

Slips and falls can happen almost anywhere. However, some of the most prevalent places that slip and falls happen that qualify as wrongful deaths are grocery stores, commercial businesses, apartment complexes, parking lots, and places of work. The way your wrongful death case will be sought is different depending on where the accident happened. For example, cases against big commercial companies differ in their parameters and insurance policies compared to slip and fall deaths that take place at a private residence.

Slips and falls can also be fatal when they happen to a senior citizen. A slip and fall can place serious strain on an older person that they may never recover from. When you are in the later stages of life and all of a sudden you need to be bedridden for a long period of time, your odds of recovering fully are much slimmer. As a matter of fact, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for adults aged 65 and older. And this number seems to be rising.

Workplace Wrongful Death

Workplace accidents that most frequently cause deaths consist of:

  • Falls from heights
  • Fire and explosions
  • Malfunctions or flaws with equipment
  • Vehicle accidents
  • Exposure to harmful substances or environments
  • Accidents caused by poor training

In these situations, determining if there is any third-party liability for negligence depends on how the accident happened. If your loved one passed away as a result of negligent conduct of an employee from a different company, that worker or that other company can be held liable for damages. However, usually if a death or injury occurs at the workplace or while the worker is "on the clock", the case would fall under workers' compensation.

Wrongful Death Due to Medical Malpractice

Wrongful death because of medical malpractice is among the trickier case types in personal injury law. Because of this, you want to make sure you have a competent attorney on your side when you're dealing with medical malpractice of any kind.

Medical malpractice that can lead to a wrongful death includes:

  • Early discharge from hospital
  • Incorrect medication or dosage
  • Surgical mistake
  • Incorrect diagnosis or overlooked diagnosis
  • Birth injury

If someone you love passed away because of the negligence of a doctor, nurse, or healthcare facility, get in touch with one of our medical malpractice attorneys at Drake Law Firm right away so we can begin to investigate and develop your case.

Compensation in a Wrongful Death Case

Family members might be qualified to recoup for several kinds of damages and losses from a wrongful death in Northridge, including:

  • The pain, suffering and grief of the surviving family members– There is not a harder time in life than when you lose somebody you love. The feelings and pain you might experience can be excruciating. We realize that no amount of money will make you feel whole again. However, the loved ones have a right to financial recuperation for the pain of experiencing this tragic experience.
  • Funeral expenses– Almost immediately after a tragic loss, family members have to incur significant cost for a funeral. Part of this law firm's role will be to recover expenses due to the funeral.
  • Medical bills and costs– In many wrongful death cases, the medical bills prior to passing away can be extremely expensive. Commonly, billing might exceed several hundred thousand dollars. Our law firm will strive to recuperate those costs from the negligent party.
  • Loss of consortium– You have a right to recuperate for the loss of no longer getting to spend and enjoy time with your family member.
  • Loss of the future earnings of the deceased– Oftentimes the family member that passed away was earning income. Family members were depending on that loved one to support the household. They have a right to recuperate that loss of future income. If needed, our law firm can hire an economist to establish what amount your family member would have made during the rest of their life.
  • Punitive damages– During a wrongful death claim, attorneys will determine whether it is appropriate to ask for leave of Court to file a punitive damages count in the case. Punitive damages are meant to penalize the responsible party for deliberate and/or outrageous conduct.

Free Wrongful Death Case Consultation

No amount of money can appropriately compensate an accident victim's loved ones after a fatality because of negligence or recklessness. Nevertheless, these family members are entitled to financial relief that is provided under local and state laws. After an accident, lots of families choose to consult with a wrongful death lawyer in Northridge to learn whether they have a case.

The type of accident can impact what options of recovery are offered to a family and how soon those cases have to be sought. For these reasons, it is a good idea to pursue legal counsel immediately after a fatality.

If you believe a negligent party may have caused a wrongful death of a family member in the Northridge area, Get in touch with us for a free wrongful death case consultation or call (844) 513-7253 to talk with a wrongful death lawyer in Northridge.

At Drake Law Firm, we've assisted numerous personal injury clients to get the compensation they require to recover. We won't let you accept unfair treatment from other law firms and we will defend you from beginning to end. If you need help with Wrongful Death in Northridge, California, give us a call at (844) 513-7253 for a FREE consultation or visit our website at DrakeLawGroup.com to get started on your case today! 

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